The Warriors like Damion Lee’s aggressiveness off the bench

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Golden State Warriors' Damion Lee (1) is guarded by Orlando Magic's Jonathan Isaac (1) in the second quarter of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Damion Lee (1) is photographed during the Golden State Warriors Media Day at Rakuten Performance Center in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

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Golden State Warriors' Damion Lee (1) shoots against the Orlando Magic in the second quarter of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Damion Lee (1) and Kevon Looney (5) battle Orlando Magic's Wesley Iwundu (25) for the ball in the first quarter of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Damion Lee (1) tries to make a layup in the second period of their NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

SACRAMENTO – The original itinerary entailed Damion Lee preparing for a G-League game. Then, that changed with one phone call.

The Warriors informed Lee on Nov. 16 they would need him for a game against Dallas the following day amid injuries to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. So instead of playing for Santa Cruz against the South Bay Lakers, Lee flew to Dallas that night. Such is the journey for the 26-year-old Lee, who is with the Warriors on a two-way contract determined to make a permanent roster spot.

“It’s tough, but this is the life I want,” Lee said. “I want to go through this so in the future when I sign my one-year, two-year or three-year deal, I’ll look back fondly on these times.”

Don’t look now, but Lee could look back fondly on this path fairly soon. The Warriors have viewed Lee as a candidate to fill their 15th and final vacant roster position at some point during the 2018-19 season.

“That was the idea when we started the season and keeping that 15th roster spot open,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. :”For whatever comes our way, whether it’s a two-way guy signing full time, buyout guy or a trade or whatever, it gives you more flexibility.”

To maximize the Warriors’ flexibility, they have remained deliberative on when they use Lee. Per terms of his two-way contract, Lee can spend up to 45 days with the Warriors. Lee has used 20 days so far, but the Warriors have kept Lee in Santa Cruz during light practices or off days. During those times, Warriors two-way player development coach Luke Loucks sends footage to Lee to study.

The Warriors adopted a similar path last season with Quinn Cook. Even if they were calculated with Cook’s workload, the Warriors eventually ran out of days because of the team’s overlapping injuries and waived Omri Casspi to open up a free roster spot. In Lee’s case, the Warriors already have a position available. Nonetheless, the Warriors plan to remain calculated on how they use Lee’s two-way contract.

“You don’t want to use up days knowing the season is long,” Kerr said, “and you have a chance to have a player that can step in for an injured player late in the season. You want to have those days saved up.”

So far, the Warriors said that Lee has maximized his time here.

He has averaged 4.9 points on 45.5 percent shooting in 15 appearances through 12.7 minutes off the bench. He logged double-digit minutes in seven of the 11 games Curry sat out with a strained left groin. He climbed back in the rotation this week because of injuries to veterans Andre Iguodala (left hip tightness) and Shaun Livingston (pelvic contusion). As Warriors star Kevin Durant observed about Lee, “he’s not afraid, can shoot it and is pretty crafty.”

“Damion’s been great. He’s fearless and is going to get out there,” Kerr said. “If he’s open, he’s going to let that thing go. He’s a good shooter. He’s helped us win some games.”

The Warriors signed Lee last summer to a two-way contract after the undrafted guard also played for them in Santa Cruz last season. Then, the Atlanta Hawks picked him up in late March. Lee is also the Curry’s brother-in-law. But the Warriors did not sign Lee again because of connections to their star player. They signed Lee because of his scoring potential and aggressiveness.

“In this league, I feel like the worst thing you can do is be timid,” Lee said. “There’s guys and stories where they’ve been the No. 1 player and guys somehow in my position are late bloomers. For me, it’s coming out with the ultimate confidence and the belief that I belong.”

The Warriors believe Lee has proven that, both with his play and remaining healthy after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament twice in a three-year span.

“These guys have been telling me ever since I’ve been up to do what got you here, taking open shot, driving the lane and looking to create,” Lee said. “Being a spark and bringing energy, it’s something I know I have and the ability I can bring. I try to come out every game and play every game whether it’s five minutes or ten minutes, just bring it out.”